Published 11:45 pm, Friday, January 29, 2010

DaSilva, 50, who also owns a real estate business at 288 Main St. and several other downtown properties, is facing charges in connection with the death of an Ecuadorean man who died from internal injuries at Danbury Hospital Nov. 6.

DaSilva is charged with first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault.

Luis Gerardo Encalada Bueno, 42, was found injured Nov. 6 in the driveway of an apartment building on Town Hill Avenue and died later that day at Danbury Hospital, according to police, who said they did not know where he lived.

"He died of some sort of internal injuries," police spokesman Capt. Thomas Wendel said in November. "They could have been caused by a natural event, such as a fall ... or by an act of violence."

Police said Friday that DaSilva turned himself in at police headquarters after being notified that the department had a warrant for his arrest.

The arrest warrant was issued Friday by a state Superior Court judge in Danbury.

Mayor Mark Boughton said he learned of DaSilva's arrest from Police Chief Al Baker, who called him at about 6:30 p.m. Friday.

"From my understanding it's DaSilva the Palace owner," Boughton said. "I don't know any of the details. I'm surprised, and I just can't comment any further.

"It's a police investigation, a police matter, and we got to let them do their jobs," the mayor added.

Police would not release DaSilva's home address, but Sgt. Larry Frinton confirmed that 288 Main St. was where he worked.

Mark Nolan, who owns Nolan Enterprises, another local real estate business in the city, said he has known DaSilva for more than 35 years.

"Joe and I, we've grown up

together in this business, and as frustrated as we get, we know what our parents have taught us," Nolan said.

"I have the highest regard for Joe," he related, "and I would find that (he did this) hard to believe."

DaSilva was released on a $100,000 bond and is due in state Superior Court in Danbury on Feb. 9.

Several calls to DaSilva's office for comment Friday night were not returned.